Madonna made an electric return to the stage on Friday night, having been whisked away by Sabrina Carpenter during her second weekend headlining Coachella show.
The 67-year-old pop icon joined Carpenter at the end of her performance to commemorate 20 years since her headlining set at the 2006 California festival.
Carpenter’s show had already featured multiple cameos before Madonna arrived. Midway through the set, a shirtless Terry Crews appeared, mentioned his role in White Chicks, and briefly sang Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles.”
Actress Geena Davis delivered a monologue similar to that of her Thelma & Louise co-star Susan Sarandon during a similar appearance during Carpenter’s first weekend performance.
Madonna’s entrance was signaled by the instrumental of her 1990 hit “Vogue,” as she emerged from below the stage wearing a purple corset, matching bottoms, elbow-length gloves, and knee-high boots.
The two performed sections of “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer,” joined by backing vocalists, before moving to an extended stage in the middle of the audience.
“Wow, thank you…Sabrina, thank you so much for inviting me on the show,” Madonna said.
“No need to thank me, Madonna,” Carpenter replied as the two held hands on stage.
“Well, there are some things I want to keep close to my heart,” Madonna continued.
“So, 20 years ago today, I performed at Coachella. I was in the dance tent and performed ‘Confessions on a Dancefloor’ Part 1 for the first time in America.
“It was such a thrill. And it’s a thrill to be back. It’s a full-circle moment, right? It means a lot to me.”
She also urged the audience to get along with each other, telling the audience, “Let’s come together. Let’s avoid disagreements. The great thing about music is that it brings people together. Music brings people together.”
“This is the only place where people have to put aside their differences, put aside their opinions, and just have a good time together, right? So I’m excited to be a part of that healing experience.”
Madonna added with a laugh that it was probably the first time she had performed with someone “shorter” than her.
The cameo follows a surprise festival appearance with Drake in 2015, where he teased new song “I Feel So Free,” and comes as he prepares to release his album Confessions II later this year.
Carpenter, wearing a white lace bodysuit and silver heels, kept a similar setlist to the first weekend while updating the guest lineup.
Last week’s show focused on cameos from actors, including Sarandon, Will Ferrell, Samuel L. Jackson and Sam Elliott.
After that first weekend’s set, Carpenter was forced to apologize after backlash for an onstage remark in which he misidentified a fan’s congratulatory call in Arabic as a “yodel,” sparking criticism online.
